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Report: Nine secures English Ashes rights

Nine tipped to pay about $40 million to air the 2027 and 2031 Test Cricket series in England.

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Nine has secured the rights to the next two Test Cricket series in England, according to media reports.

Nine-owned Australian Financial Review reports Nine will pay about $40 million to air the 2027 and 2031 clashes in the biennial cricket contest, sources said. The rights are likely to remain jointly held by Nine and pay TV company Foxtel.

It speculates that Seven was not prepared to pay more than $50 million for the two series, sought by The England and Wales Cricket Board.

The deal ends Seven West Media’s efforts to bring the entirety of the Ashes onto its free-to-air network. Seven has the rights to the Ashes series on Australian soil until 2031 as part of a $1.5 billion, seven-year deal with Cricket Australia it shares with Foxtel.

Nine is in exclusive talks with Rugby Australia about a new broadcast deal for Stan Sport to take over once the existing agreement and is expect to announce a new deal for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Foxtel indicated it did not comment on ongoing negotiations.

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  1. Another thought: this decision by seven sort of screws up their playbook. Traditionally they mostly lose Q1 with MAFS dominating and lose Q4 with the block but completely own Q2 and 3 with AFL; for 2027 and 2031 (as may be the case this year), this will likely interrupt seven just enough for nine to claim the yearly win. Seven were massively helped this year with the Matilda’s. Seven till now have claimed this is their priority (versus winning various demos) but I guess they are watching the $$.

  2. Well this boggles the mind …. If I understand the article correctly, seven thought $40m for each series was too high (offering $50m for both). The Ashes provides up to 25 nights of prime time viewing. But for me the bigger question is where is nine getting all their money from. Olympics, rugby (probably won’t be that much) and the Melbourne cup (again not that much but zero in prime time) in addition to NRL and tennis. Yes, Stan will help defray some cost but still. SWM’s balance sheet is looking better now that it has in a long time (but still a tad shaky) but unlike nine and ten, has not gone through any form of receivership. Maybe they should to liberate money as this seems to have worked for nine??

    1. It’s really only the commentators who are different and nines needed a refresh. Pointing is excellent in commentary (I realize a ten discovery with the BBL).

  5. Foxtel I’m assuming is keeping all non-Ashes cricket from England.

    Based on the fact they recently renewed all cricket from India and ofcourse Australia, add in NZ, SA, England and tournaments like the IPL, that’s nearly every major cricket out there except away Ashes.

    Foxtel’s ICC tournaments rights though are expiring after the ’23 WC. They might face tougher competition to keep them remembering 7 got the WTC final.

    But it’ll be easier for the fans if Fox can win it. One place to watch all cricket is easier than it being spread like soccer rights and being asked to subscribe to Stan Sports for one tournament or Paramount for another.

    1. ECB is negotiating two packages. One for the ashes in England (2027 and 2031) and the other is for all other cricket in England (test matches vs non-Australia opponents, ODIs, T20s, hundred)

      The first was with Nine, the second with Foxtel. I guess that’s what they are referring to. Nine to keep the Ashes, Foxtel to keep every other cricket in England.

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